UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 - General Studies Paper I — question paper

Source note: KSLC indexes previous-year papers for practice and revision. Copyright and official exam ownership remain with the respective examination authorities. When a record uses an official public source, use that authority's notice as final.

Historical paper · reviewed structured rendering

UPSC Civil Services Prelims 2018 - General Studies Paper I

Paper #3248 · 2018 · General Studies Paper I · 100 reviewed questions · Showing 41–80 of 100

Close paper

Accuracy note: This is a reviewed structured rendering of an official previous-year paper and may cover only part of it. Where available, explanatory notes describe unresolved source or answer issues without supplying a scoring answer. Official examination authority notices remain final.

2018 General Studies Paper I, Series A: 100 questions with 100 final-key answers and concise KSLC explanations. Original questions and applicable copyright belong to UPSC and the respective rights holders. KSLC explanations are independent educational commentary; KSLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by UPSC. Official source: https://www.upsc.gov.in/examinations/previous-question-papers/archives

Consider the following statements: 1. No criminal proceedings shall be instituted against the Governor of a State in any court during his term of office. 2. The emoluments and allowances of the Governor of a State shall not be diminished during his term of office. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the
1. Bundi school
2. Jaipur school
3. Kangra school
4. Kishangarh school
What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?
1. An Israeli radar system
2. India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
3. An American anti-missile system
4. A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
With reference to cultural history of India, consider the following statements: 1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna. 2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas. 3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries. 4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara. Which of the statements given above are correct?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 2, 3 and 4
Which of the following are regarded as the main features of the “Rule of Law”? 1. Limitation of powers 2. Equality before law 3. People’s responsibility to the Government 4. Liberty and civil rights Select the correct answer using the code given below
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money?
1. The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases
2. The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims
3. The bank money in the form of cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.
4. The metallic money in circulation in a country
If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then
1. the opportunity cost is zero.
2. the opportunity cost is ignored.
3. the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.
4. the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the Government.
Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if
1. industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output.
2. agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output.
3. poverty and unemployment increase.
4. imports grow faster than exports.
Consider the following statements: Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables 1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital. 2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country. 3. accumulation of tangible wealth. 4. accumulation of intangible wealth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 2
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 4
4. 1, 3 and 4
Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to
1. weak administrative machinery
2. illiteracy
3. high population density
4. high capital-output ratio
After the Santhal Uprising subsided, what was/were the measure/measures taken by the colonial government? 1. The territories called ‘Santhal Paraganas’ were created. 2. It became illegal for a Santhal to transfer land to a non-Santhal. Select the correct answer using the code given below
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Economically, one of the results of the British rule in India in the 19th century was the
1. increase in the export of Indian handicrafts
2. growth in the number of Indian owned factories
3. commercialization of Indian agriculture
4. rapid increase in the urban population
If the President of India exercises his power as provided under Article 356 of the Constitution in respect of a particular State, then
1. the Assembly of the State is automatically dissolved.
2. the powers of the Legislature of that State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of the Parliament.
3. Article 19 is suspended in that State.
4. the President can make laws relating to that State.
Consider the following pairs:
Craft — Heritage of
1. Puthukkuli shawls — Tamil Nadu
2. Sujni embroidery — Maharashtra
3. Uppada Jamdani saris — Karnataka
Which of the pairs given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3
In which of the following areas can GPS technology be used? 1. Mobile phone operations 2. Banking operations 3. Controlling the power grids Select the correct answer using the code given below
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Consider the following statements: 1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities. 2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments. 3. Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Consider the following statements: 1. The Earth’s magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. 2. When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide. 3. When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are . correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
The terms ‘WannaCry, Petya and EternalBlue’ sometimes mentioned in the news recently are related to
1. Exoplanets
2. Cryptocurrency
3. Cyber attacks
4. Mini satellites
With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? 1. Avoiding the monoculture practices 2. Adopting minimum tillage 3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops 4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface 5. Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotations Select the correct answer using the code given below
1. 1, 3 and 4
2. 2, 3, 4 and 5
3. 2, 4 and 5
4. 1, 2, 3 and 5
The term “sixth mass extinction/sixth extinction” is often mentioned in the news in the context of the discussion of
1. Widespread monoculture practices in agriculture and large-scale commercial farming with indiscriminate use of chemicals in many parts of the world that may result in the loss of good native ecosystems.
2. Fears of a possible collision of a meteorite with the Earth in the near future in the manner it happened 65 million years ago that caused the mass extinction of many species including those of dinosaurs.
3. Large scale cultivation of genetically modified crops in many parts of the world and promoting their cultivation in other parts of the world which may cause the disappearance of good native crop plants and the loss of food biodiversity.
4. Mankind’s over-exploitation/misuse of natural resources, fragmentation/loss of natural habitats, destruction of ecosystems, pollution and global climate change.
With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements: 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits. 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders. 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. None
Consider the following phenomena: 1. Light is affected by gravity. 2. The Universe is constantly expanding. 3. Matter warps its surrounding space-time. Which of the above is/are the prediction/predictions of Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, often discussed in media?
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
With reference to the Genetically Modified mustard (GM mustard) developed in India, consider the following statements: 1. GM mustard has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests. 2. GM mustard has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization. 3. GM mustard has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Consider the following pairs:
Terms sometimes seen in news — Context/Topic
1. Belle II experiment — Artificial Intelligence
2. Blockchain technology — Digital/Cryptocurrency
3. CRISPR–Cas9 — Particle Physics
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Which of the following statements best describes “carbon fertilization”?
1. Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
2. Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
3. Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
4. Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
When the alarm of your smartphone rings in the morning, you wake up and tap it to stop the alarm which causes your geyser to be switched on automatically. The smart mirror in your bathroom shows the day’s weather and also indicates the level of water in your overhead tank. After you take some groceries from your refrigerator for making breakfast, it recognises the shortage of stock in it and places an order for the supply of fresh grocery items. When you step out of your house and lock the door, all lights, fans, geysers and AC machines get switched off automatically. On your way to office, your car warns you about traffic congestion ahead and suggests an alternative route, and if you are late for a meeting, it sends a message to your office accordingly. In the context of emerging communication technologies, which one of the following terms best applies to the above scenario?
1. Border Gateway Protocol
2. Internet of Things
3. Internet Protocol
4. Virtual Private Network
With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements: 1. India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units. 2. The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
The staple commodities of export by the English East India Company from Bengal in the middle of the 18th century were
1. Raw cotton, oil-seeds and opium
2. Sugar, salt, zinc and lead
3. Copper, silver, gold, spices and tea
4. Cotton, silk, saltpetre and opium
Which one of the following is a very significant aspect of the Champaran ’ Satyagraha?
1. Active all-India participation of lawyers, students and women in the National Movement
2. Active involvement of Dalit and Tribal communities of India in the National Movement
3. Joining of peasant unrest to India’s National Movement
4. Drastic decrease in the cultivation of plantation crops and commercial crops
Who among the following were the founders of the “Hind Mazdoor Sabha” established in 1948?
1. B. Krishna Pillai, E.M.S. Namboodiripad and K.C. George
2. Jayaprakash Narayan, Deen Dayal Upadhyay and M.N. Roy
3. C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, K. Kamaraj and Veeresalingam Pantulu
4. Ashok Mehta, T.S. Ramanujam and G.G. Mehta
With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to
1. Buddhism
2. Jainism
3. Vaishnavism
4. Shaivism
With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following statements: 1. White marble was used in making Buland Darwaza and Khankah at Fatehpur Sikri. 2. Red sandstone and marble were used in making Bara Imambara and Rumi Darwaza at Lucknow. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Which one of the following foreign travellers elaborately discussed about diamonds and diamond mines of India?
1. Francois Bernier
2. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier
3. Jean de Thevenot
4. Abbe Barthelemy Carre
With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
1. Avalokiteshvara
2. Lokesvara
3. Maitreya
4. Padmapani
Which one of the following statements does not apply to the system of Subsidiary Alliance introduced by Lord Wellesley?
1. To maintain a large standing army at other’s expense
2. To keep India safe from Napoleonic danger
3. To secure a fixed income for the Company
4. To establish British paramountcy over the Indian States
Which of the following led to the introduction of English Education in India? 1. Charter Act of 1813 2. General Committee of Public Instruction, 1823 3. Orientalist and Anglicist Controversy Select the correct answer using the code given below
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
1. Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
2. Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)
3. Nainital (Uttarakhand)
4. Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)
With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. 3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3
In 1920, which of the following changed its name to “Swarajya Sabha”?
1. All India Home Rule League
2. Hindu Mahasabha
3. South Indian Liberal Federation
4. The Servants of India Society
Which among the following events happened earliest?
1. Swami Dayanand established Arya Samaj.
2. Dinabandhu Mitra wrote Neeldarpan.
3. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Anandmath.
4. Satyendranath Tagore became the first Indian to succeed in the Indian Civil Services Examination.

Browse all previous-year papers